We recently went through pictures at my in-law's home. I love pictures. One in particular stood out to all of us, and for different reasons it seems. It was a black and white of my daddy-in-law. A young boy sitting on the end of a flat bed trailer, holding a little mutt puppy in one hand and sporting a half-eaten popsicle in the other. They decided he was about six years old, and the scenery of 1949 Itasca, Texas was in the background, along with two shadows. One of the shadows was obviously taking the picture, and the other standing beside. "I wonder who they are?", I asked. No one knew for sure. Speculations were made and then we all moved on.
That was weeks ago, but my heart and mind has not released the shadows. Who were they? Did they love Buddy? Did they deposit into his life (good or bad)? Did they know Jesus (and a million other thought questions)? What remains in the shadow of a man?....
The older I get the greater understanding of my mortality I get! This may sound silly to some, but, I'd been praying for God to reveal to me the significance of those shadows. Next thing I know, I'm thinking about shadows AND withering grass!!
Got it! Isaiah 40:6-8 reads, "A voice said 'Shout!' I asked, 'What should I shout?' 'Shout that people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in the field. The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breathe of the Lord. And so it is with people. The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.'"
Ok.....(brain processing)... Even the grass and flowers leave a shadow. They decompose and deposit something to the earth. Healthy grass and flowers leave healthy and good deposits. Diseased leaves disease...bad stuff.
"Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered - how fleeting my life is. You have made me no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to You; at best, each of us is but a breath. We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing." Psalm 39:4-6a
No more busy rushing. I pray that from this moment on I will live a life of purpose, that shares and reflects the only forever thing...God's Word. That years from now, this withering flower's shadow has left good deposits with no disease. What an amazing thought....the shadow of a man.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Friday, August 27, 2010
Open Mouth...Exit LOVE
The Bible speaks CLEARLY on the power of the tongue. It is also very clear how God would have us use it. The third chapter in the book of James is packed with info about the tongue that is not very flattering. "Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!", James 3:9 & 10. Psalm 34: 13 & 14 reads, "Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for PEACE, and WORK to maintain it." I love that!! People don't even know that the word "peace" exists any more! Bear with me, just two more Scriptures...Proverbs 13:3, "Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything." (baahaahaa! Isn't that the truth!!!) And then there's Proverbs 21:23, "Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble."
People make assessments of you by the words that you speak. It's true!! Don't you know a "Sassy-Susie"? or a "Maggie-Magpie"? How about "Stretch-the-truth Sally"?? Guess I could have said "Lying-Lizzy". We connect people with their words. It is a reflection of their heart....right? (Matthew 12:34) The words I say reflect what is in my heart. I'm proud to say that I also know MANY "Edifying-Ellys", "Kallie-Comforters" and "Edith-Encouragers" (is there any one named "Edith" any more? My mind went to Archie Bunker!!) There are Scriptures that tell us not to be grumblers or complainers (I pray for help in that area DAILY) and lots of Scripture that tells us to edify one another and use our words to bring peace.
I think I was born in a church...my Dad and Mom must have read me the Bible every night instead of nursery rhymes. Not really. I was born in Harris Hospital, Ft Worth, Texas and I know Mother Goose personally. My dad loved nursery rhymes. We still say them to each other. We are actually testing one another to see if our memories are still functioning....they say that's the first thing to go!! When you grow up knowing the Bible, your "knowledge" can dominate, even overtake, the one thing that Jesus felt was most important....LOVE. If I am not careful, my life will reflect a bunch of "head knowledge" but a lack of "heart knowledge". Father forgive me. I Corinthians 13 tells us that we could speak all the languages of the earth, have the gift of prophecy, possess great knowledge, have oodles of faith, give all we have to the poor.....but, without loving others, we have nothing but a couple of bragging rights. We have NOTHING.
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.......Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love- and the greatest of these is LOVE." (I Corinthians 13: 4-7, 13) .....speak LOVE.
People make assessments of you by the words that you speak. It's true!! Don't you know a "Sassy-Susie"? or a "Maggie-Magpie"? How about "Stretch-the-truth Sally"?? Guess I could have said "Lying-Lizzy". We connect people with their words. It is a reflection of their heart....right? (Matthew 12:34) The words I say reflect what is in my heart. I'm proud to say that I also know MANY "Edifying-Ellys", "Kallie-Comforters" and "Edith-Encouragers" (is there any one named "Edith" any more? My mind went to Archie Bunker!!) There are Scriptures that tell us not to be grumblers or complainers (I pray for help in that area DAILY) and lots of Scripture that tells us to edify one another and use our words to bring peace.
I think I was born in a church...my Dad and Mom must have read me the Bible every night instead of nursery rhymes. Not really. I was born in Harris Hospital, Ft Worth, Texas and I know Mother Goose personally. My dad loved nursery rhymes. We still say them to each other. We are actually testing one another to see if our memories are still functioning....they say that's the first thing to go!! When you grow up knowing the Bible, your "knowledge" can dominate, even overtake, the one thing that Jesus felt was most important....LOVE. If I am not careful, my life will reflect a bunch of "head knowledge" but a lack of "heart knowledge". Father forgive me. I Corinthians 13 tells us that we could speak all the languages of the earth, have the gift of prophecy, possess great knowledge, have oodles of faith, give all we have to the poor.....but, without loving others, we have nothing but a couple of bragging rights. We have NOTHING.
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.......Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love- and the greatest of these is LOVE." (I Corinthians 13: 4-7, 13) .....speak LOVE.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
This Is Just Who I Am.....
I will start off by saying (because you may not read any further), if "this is just who I am" does not honor God....it's not who you should be. For those of you who do not care what God or any one else thinks of you, the rest of this blog will mean nothing. But, if you DO care, read on.....
I've hated my nose since I was in the 6th grade. I don't know what happened! It started growing and wouldn't stop!! It's not like an ugly birthmark or even a cow-lick (I have those too!). You just can't hide your nose!!! I will confess I have even prayed about my nose and spent countless hours pushing it upward thinking maybe a big PUG nose would be cuter. (sad, but true!!) When my brother wanted to hurt my feelings (which was NOT often...I have a great brother!!), he would call me "Toucan Sam". Ugh! Even typing it hurts!!! As much as I don't like my nose, I believe God loves it! Since I was created in His image....maybe He likes big noses??? I see a lot of big noses in this world! Regardless of how I feel, the Bible tells me I was "fearfully and WONDERFULLY made".
Okay, now stay with me. I can't change my nose..... understood. But let's talk about PERSONALITY. I am not ignorant of DNA (nor is God). Again, the Bible tells me that God "made all the delicate, INNER parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb" (I love my mom!). I know that DNA plays a part in our personality. I'm a bit on the silly-side. I'm in the same mood when I get up as when I go to bed (the party just continues!!). My tolerance for people who do not agree with me on everything is a little low.....I DON'T like sports and I am not a genius. I'm just silly....yep, if I had to describe my personality in one word, it would be silly. On occasion I whip out my inner child and talk just like her. She's pretty cute and she makes Wade laugh. (sshh, please don't tell any one from my church about this! They might not "view" me the same!) Personality is an interesting thing. We can even use it to justify sin. .....OUCH! That low-tolerance thing I have can turn ugly FAST! My love to talk has led me to say anything but edifying words at times. But...but, it's just "who I am".
If you read in the book of Galatians, it says, "Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.....What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God's peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God."
When I became a Christian my DNA didn't change. I'm still silly....but I am accountable. The truth is, we are all accountable for our own actions. "Hold the phone"... Isn't this the age of "NON-accountability"??!! Nope, it's not. I am a Christian and I am accountable to God...and to you. I CHOOSE daily to cry out to God as the psalmist did so many years ago, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life...Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You....Teach me to do Your will, for you are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing." God can and will use my life, my DNA, and even my silliness, as long as I say, "This is just who God wants me to be...."
I've hated my nose since I was in the 6th grade. I don't know what happened! It started growing and wouldn't stop!! It's not like an ugly birthmark or even a cow-lick (I have those too!). You just can't hide your nose!!! I will confess I have even prayed about my nose and spent countless hours pushing it upward thinking maybe a big PUG nose would be cuter. (sad, but true!!) When my brother wanted to hurt my feelings (which was NOT often...I have a great brother!!), he would call me "Toucan Sam". Ugh! Even typing it hurts!!! As much as I don't like my nose, I believe God loves it! Since I was created in His image....maybe He likes big noses??? I see a lot of big noses in this world! Regardless of how I feel, the Bible tells me I was "fearfully and WONDERFULLY made".
Okay, now stay with me. I can't change my nose..... understood. But let's talk about PERSONALITY. I am not ignorant of DNA (nor is God). Again, the Bible tells me that God "made all the delicate, INNER parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb" (I love my mom!). I know that DNA plays a part in our personality. I'm a bit on the silly-side. I'm in the same mood when I get up as when I go to bed (the party just continues!!). My tolerance for people who do not agree with me on everything is a little low.....I DON'T like sports and I am not a genius. I'm just silly....yep, if I had to describe my personality in one word, it would be silly. On occasion I whip out my inner child and talk just like her. She's pretty cute and she makes Wade laugh. (sshh, please don't tell any one from my church about this! They might not "view" me the same!) Personality is an interesting thing. We can even use it to justify sin. .....OUCH! That low-tolerance thing I have can turn ugly FAST! My love to talk has led me to say anything but edifying words at times. But...but, it's just "who I am".
If you read in the book of Galatians, it says, "Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.....What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God's peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God."
When I became a Christian my DNA didn't change. I'm still silly....but I am accountable. The truth is, we are all accountable for our own actions. "Hold the phone"... Isn't this the age of "NON-accountability"??!! Nope, it's not. I am a Christian and I am accountable to God...and to you. I CHOOSE daily to cry out to God as the psalmist did so many years ago, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life...Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You....Teach me to do Your will, for you are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing." God can and will use my life, my DNA, and even my silliness, as long as I say, "This is just who God wants me to be...."
Sunday, August 22, 2010
It's All About A Microwave
Okay, most guys are not going to understand my thoughts here....and maybe a lot of women won't either....but, I have to say, "It's all about a microwave". "Huh? A microwave?", you ask. Yes, a microwave.
If you know me at all, you know that organization is not my strong point. I'm a MAJOR "wanna-be", but, as of yet it hasn't happened. The problem with lack of organization is the constant and time consuming search for everything. And since I waste so much time in search for things I am often caught in the game of "catch-up". This means that there are certain parts of my house that forever remain on the "I'll do it later" list. Hence, therefore, ergo....the microwave. That little stinker!! The gunk and junk that seems to decorate the inside of my microwave always show up uninvited! Where does that stuff come from?? Hmmm, I recognize that stuck-on orange splotch as cheese that leaked out from someone's tortilla without a plate. And what's up with the top!!?? All that brown, splattered meaty looking stuff....ugh!! I found out that the longer you leave it, the harder it is to clean off!
When do YOU clean your microwave? MOST of the time, mine is cleaned just prior to company. There are those times, unfortunately, that I'm so busy picking up toys and hiding dirty laundry that I forget to clean the inside of my microwave. It is those times, inevitably, that my mom or mom-in-law visit! Bummer! And, like a magnet, for some odd reason, they have to use my microwave! OOOOHH THE HORROR!! Tragedy!!! I shall never show my face in public again!! Well, maybe it's not that bad, but it really does embarrass me. REALLY! I hate that! My mom's microwave always seems clean!!! Even when I show up for a surprise visit and walk directly to her microwave to catch her in the act of not cleaning it!! (teehee)
Recently and ironically, before our company arrived, I was cleaning the inside of my microwave. The Lord and I were having a chat. "Is my life like this microwave? Is this how You see me? ...do I only clean it when I'm expecting You for a visit?" I don't want all that gunk and junk building up! I desire a clean heart and a pure life that pleases and honors God. I want the blobs of cheese removed before they become such a part of me that I don't see the need to get rid of them. How quickly those splattered, meaty looking sins become stuck on habits. Truly, the longer they stick around, the harder they are to get rid of. But God is so faithful! He loves us so much....even when our microwaves are dirty.... The bottom line is, I should keep my microwave clean...but it doesn't change how my mom feels about me when it's not. God hates sin, no doubt...but does it change who I am to Him? I have no power on my own...even to remove my own sinful "cheese". But when I ask God to forgive me, He gets out the Mr. Clean and removes the gunk like nobody else can! And His Word assures me of who I am to Him. II Peter 2:9 "But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, GOD'S VERY OWN POSSESSION. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness (& dirty microwaves) into His wonderful light."
If you know me at all, you know that organization is not my strong point. I'm a MAJOR "wanna-be", but, as of yet it hasn't happened. The problem with lack of organization is the constant and time consuming search for everything. And since I waste so much time in search for things I am often caught in the game of "catch-up". This means that there are certain parts of my house that forever remain on the "I'll do it later" list. Hence, therefore, ergo....the microwave. That little stinker!! The gunk and junk that seems to decorate the inside of my microwave always show up uninvited! Where does that stuff come from?? Hmmm, I recognize that stuck-on orange splotch as cheese that leaked out from someone's tortilla without a plate. And what's up with the top!!?? All that brown, splattered meaty looking stuff....ugh!! I found out that the longer you leave it, the harder it is to clean off!
When do YOU clean your microwave? MOST of the time, mine is cleaned just prior to company. There are those times, unfortunately, that I'm so busy picking up toys and hiding dirty laundry that I forget to clean the inside of my microwave. It is those times, inevitably, that my mom or mom-in-law visit! Bummer! And, like a magnet, for some odd reason, they have to use my microwave! OOOOHH THE HORROR!! Tragedy!!! I shall never show my face in public again!! Well, maybe it's not that bad, but it really does embarrass me. REALLY! I hate that! My mom's microwave always seems clean!!! Even when I show up for a surprise visit and walk directly to her microwave to catch her in the act of not cleaning it!! (teehee)
Recently and ironically, before our company arrived, I was cleaning the inside of my microwave. The Lord and I were having a chat. "Is my life like this microwave? Is this how You see me? ...do I only clean it when I'm expecting You for a visit?" I don't want all that gunk and junk building up! I desire a clean heart and a pure life that pleases and honors God. I want the blobs of cheese removed before they become such a part of me that I don't see the need to get rid of them. How quickly those splattered, meaty looking sins become stuck on habits. Truly, the longer they stick around, the harder they are to get rid of. But God is so faithful! He loves us so much....even when our microwaves are dirty.... The bottom line is, I should keep my microwave clean...but it doesn't change how my mom feels about me when it's not. God hates sin, no doubt...but does it change who I am to Him? I have no power on my own...even to remove my own sinful "cheese". But when I ask God to forgive me, He gets out the Mr. Clean and removes the gunk like nobody else can! And His Word assures me of who I am to Him. II Peter 2:9 "But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, GOD'S VERY OWN POSSESSION. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness (& dirty microwaves) into His wonderful light."
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Opportunities to Grow
PTL! PTL!! In the movie "Evan Almighty", Morgan Freeman (playing the role of God) said something like, "when someone prays for ___ (let's pretend he said 'patience'), I don't just GIVE them patience. But I give them OPPORTUNITIES to grow patience." That was badly paraphrased, but hopefully you get the point. Although that's not in the Bible verbatim, it is definitely there by example! So.....as cool as that may sound (God granting opportunities) it is oh-so-challenging!! I feel like I have been through a long tunnel of my weaknesses just to watch God do some amazing stuff in my heart! In the past couple of weeks I have shed MANY MANY tears. Bitterness has looked me square in the eyes, fear has been a constant but totally UNINVITED companion, anger and probably a little rage have had their boxing gloves on (waiting for me to get in the ring), my past sins have played in my head like bad 80's reruns and my ability to love & view others through God's eyes have been as unstable as an al dente noodle!! ........then came the morning!!! "Oh Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but You. Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to You and wait expectantly." Psalm 5:1-3 "Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning...The Lord is good to those who depend on Him, to those who search for Him." Lamentations 3:23 & 25 "But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance....He isn't here! He has risen from the dead! Remember what He told you back in Galilee, that the son of man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day." Luke 24:1,2,6 & 7 "Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20 And finally...(& in RED letters) "Peace be with you." Luke 24:36. Even while traveling through the tunnel, God's Word has assured me that He hears my prayers, His mercy is unlimited, He is GOOD, He has conquered sin & death, He will NEVER leave me and He IS peace. What an OPPORTUNITY to grow!
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